MHCC newspaper, website win 11 awards at collegiate contest

The Advocate won 11 awards May 11 in the annual collegiate newspaper contest sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.

A day long “Collegiate Day” event, involving Oregon colleges with daily or weekly newspapers and websites, was held at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany.

The Advocate won four-first place awards, six-second place awards and one honorable mention. The first-place awards were in the Best Design, Best Website, Best Columnist and Best Review categories.

The newspaper also took home the second-place award for General Excellence.

The entire staff was honored for having the best designed newspaper in its category and Associate/Web Editor John Tkebuchava received first place for the Advocate website (www.advocate-online.net).

Living Arts Editor David Gambill and Assistant Living Arts Editor Kylie Rogers were awarded second place for best section and Rogers was awarded first place for best review for her review of “Snoopy!!!”

Former Sports Editor Chanel Hill won second place for best sports story for “Saints season proves charmed.” Hill also was awarded an honorable mention for in the best writing category for her stories entitled “Saints season proves charmed”, “Saints pummel Storm, seize lead in Southern Region,” and “Step-by-step men’s basketball claim Southern region title.”

Opinion Editor Shelby Schwartz won first place in best columnist for her columns “Following negative feedback how long can Occupy Portland last” and “More participation is needed to create a sense of community.” Editor-in-Chief Jill-Marie Gavin received second place in the same category for her columns “Columbus Day is an inappropriate holiday,” and “Use Heritage Month to gain deep understanding of native cultures.”

In the best editorial category, Gavin and Associate Editor Mike Mata earned second for their editorial “Diversity center has potential but still needs more discussion.”

Former Photo Editor Riley Hinds received second place in best photography category for his photos entitled “MHCC-hosted MMA event a packed house,” “Evictions and arrests: Occupiers ponder what’s next” and “Third time proves a charm for Saints volleyball.”

In a reply to an all-staff email sent out Monday, David Sussman manager of College Center services and grant-sponsored programs, said, “Congrats to the Advocate staff and advising team for such accolades, especially during a year of more challenges than usual! Way to keep the Advocate top-notch on our campus, in the community, and around the state!”

Scarlett Saavedra, English instructor, also replied, “The variety of awards — from news writing to photography and web site — proves The Advocate’s excellence in every area of the production of a newspaper.  You have worked hard and sacrificed many hours to create a newspaper with integrity.”

During the event, Oregonian sports columnist and radio personality John Canzano was the keynote speaker.

Entries in 21 categories were judged in three circulation groups: Circulation Group 1 for four-year colleges or universities with daily newspapers, Circulation Group 2 for four-year colleges or universities with non-daily newspapers and Circulation Group 3 for two-year colleges with non-daily newspapers. The Advocate is in Circulation Group 3.

Submissions were judged by professional journalists from ONPA member newspapers.

The ONPA, founded in 1887, is a professional association of the state’s professional and collegiate newspapers. It has sponsored the Collegiate Newspaper Contest since 1992.

Advocate Staff